Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district.It is spread over a large area amongst rolling hills and valleys. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.Ooty is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. Ooty attracts people from all over India as well as foreign countries right through summer, and sometimes in the winters too. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.

Tourist Places in Ooty

Lalith kala Academy
It is situated about 2 Kms, from Udhagamandalam in the main Mysore road. It has various collections of contemporary paintings and sculptures all over from India.

Pykara fall
19 km from Ooty. The river has a dam and power plant. There is a breathtaking scenery. The falls, about 6 km from the bridge on the main road, are best in July, but they are also worth visiting from August to December.

Mini Garden And Rose Garden
Located less than a km from Charring Cross, the rose garden is laid on 10 acres of land. The garden has a collection of more than 1000 varieties of roses. Tourists can visit this mini garden which is on the way to Boathouse.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
In the luxuriantly forested foothills of the Nilgiri, this 321 sq. km sanctuary is part of a much larger reserve (3000 sq km ) which includes Bandipur and Wynad in neighbouring Karnataka and Kerala. The larger reserve ranges in vegetarian from semi-evergreen forests to swamps and grasslands. In Mudumalai, the mostly dense forest is home to chital, gaur, tiger, panther, wild boar and sloth bear. The park's wild elephant population, one of the largest in the country, supposedly numbers about 600, however you're more likely to see their domesticated brethren carrying out logging duties. The best time to visit Mudumalai is between February and June. Heavy rain is common in October and November and the park may be closed during the dry season.

Climate
The climate of Ooty is pleasent in summers,during winters somewhat chill but the days are sunny.

How to Reach Ooty?

Bus the state bus companies all have reservation offices at the bus stand, most open daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm. There are 20 buses daily to Mysore ( five hours ) and many continue to Banglore ( eight hours ) . There are buses every 30 minutes to Coimbatore ( three hours ) three buses a day to Chennai (15 hours ) and also direct services to Kanyakumari (14 hours ), Thanjavur (10 hours ) and Tirupathi ( 14 hours ). Train the miniature railways is the best way to get here. Departures and arrivals at Mettupalalyam usually connect with Chennai.